(Columbia, SC) — Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services (PALSS) is increasing efforts to educate young people, particularly in Black communities, about HIV prevention and the benefits of PrEP as South Carolina observes its seventh annual PrEP Awareness initiative.
Throughout September, PALSS and other community health organizations have participated in events at colleges and universities across South Carolina, providing HIV testing, education and information about pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP.
PrEP is a medication available as a pill or injection that can significantly reduce a person’s risk of acquiring HIV when taken as prescribed. Although PrEP has been available for more than a decade, PALSS says its use remains low in South Carolina, particularly among populations at greater risk of HIV infection.
The outreach is especially significant for South Carolina’s Black community. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Health, African Americans accounted for approximately 55% of people newly diagnosed with HIV during 2023 and 2024, despite representing about one-quarter of the state’s population. More than 20,000 South Carolinians were living with diagnosed HIV as of the end of 2024.
PALSS CEO Carmen Julious said the organization’s goal is to give young people, particularly those in Black communities, the information and resources they need to protect their health and help reduce the spread of HIV.
This year’s awareness campaign carried the theme “My Health, My Body, My PrEP,” emphasizing personal health decisions, prevention and greater access to HIV education. PALSS participated in several Midlands college events during the month, including programs at Columbia College, Morris College and Allen University.
The organization’s final September event was scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, at Benedict College in Columbia, where students could receive PrEP education and HIV prevention information. The South Carolina Department of Public Health also coordinated testing and educational events at colleges across the state throughout September.
Residents who missed the awareness events can still access HIV and STD testing and information about PrEP throughout the year. The South Carolina Department of Public Health maintains a statewide list of testing locations and PrEP providers and operates an HIV/STD information hotline at 1-800-322-AIDS (2437).
For PALSS and its community partners, the message extends beyond one awareness month: increasing knowledge, testing and access to prevention can play an important role in reducing HIV disparities across South Carolina.
